PARP Inhibitors as Radiosensitizers: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Radiotherapy remains a fundamental pillar of cancer treatment, however its efficacy is still often limited by tumor radioresistance and toxicity to surrounding healthy tissues. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have emerged as potent radiosensitizers by impairing DNA repair mechanisms, particularly base excision repair, thereby enhancing the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation (IR). This review provides a critical narrative synthesis, based on a structured literature search, consolidating current preclinical and clinical evidence on the therapeutic potential of combining PARPi with various IR modalities, including X-rays, γ-rays, α- and β-particles, protons, and carbon ions, across a broad spectrum of tumor types.

The findings reveal that PARPi consistently enhance radiosensitivity, with the magnitude of effect influenced by radiation type, tumor-specific DNA repair capacity, and PARPi pharmacodynamics. Notably, combinations with high-LET radiation (e.g., carbon ions) demonstrate superior efficacy in certain contexts, while emerging data highlights the immunomodulatory potential of PARPi plus IR strategies via cGAS-STING pathway activation. Clinical trials confirm the feasibility of these combinations, although toxicity profiles vary by tumor type and treatment regimen. This review underscores the promise of PARPi plus radiotherapy combinations and identifies key avenues for future research, including biomarker-driven patient stratification and the development of triple-combination strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes.